I am looking for some measuring devices: Adjustable square, dial indicator, feeler guages and side caliper.
The basics for the above average handyman. I borrowed some of these things from co-workers for setting up my table saw.

My brother highly recommends starrett, but they are a little expensive and I need to find something a little cheaper.

Thank you

 

mitutoyo is right up there with starrett and their stuff is a lil cheaper. thats what a majority of the guys including me at my shop use.

 

Cool, I am looking at some of their stuff now. Price seems reasonable.
http://www.tylertool.com/squarehead.html

It would be cool to find some sort of "starter kit".

 

yeah thats just the square head. u can find the whole set for fairly cheap. what exactly are u goin to be using all this stuff on?

 

x2 I use all mitutoyo tools except for indicators. Seems like hes using it for engine building.

I usually buy from enco, msc, or travers.

 

Mitutoyo here also

 

I've got about 5 different Mitutoyo digital measuring devices and I love all of them. I use a Starrett digital for measuring bores and that is great too.

 

Mostly for checking for accuracy on my saws. I like having an accurate square to make sure I am getting a true 90 or 45 which is what I most commonly cut. Mostly woodworking and remodeling. I was happy with my Johnson until I learned how far off 90 it was.

To me this is just another tool to make my life a little easier and that should last a lifetime, since they wont be used very often.

 

So your indicating it to check how square it is?

 

gotcha. if u are just going to use it to square ur saw blade with the table, get either the mitutoyo or starrett square. its not a 2 piece set. it is just a solid square that is dead nuts on. MSC catalog has good stuff in it also.

 

Thanks for the help

 

starrett is junk. mitutoyo or nothing.

 

Mitutoyo are top notch, but for the price i have had get success with SPi and Folwer. I have a set of SPi squares that were pretty affordable. Check MSC for the decent prices.

 

x2

 

I use Mitutoyo, Starrett, B&S..etc.

For woodworking, you could get away with cheap stuff imo. I have some stuff from Kar, which is nice for the price

 

Starrett has some nice stuff, I wouldn't knock them that hard, but like others Mitutoyo is ****!

I check my Starrett digital bore gauge with Mitutoyo digital micrometers.

 

The older starrett stuff is good, its just in recent years they have started to slide

 

Aren't the newer stuff made in china?

 

why is starrett junk i use them all the time in tool and die making. one of my coworks has owned some of his starrett tools for 40 years and they still work like brand new.

 

In all fairness to Starret I loved all their products before they started getting made overseas . Quality went to **** after that just like most everything else. I will only buy a Starret product if it has the Athol Mass. stamp on it. I would agree though Mitutoyo is now the best out there.......

 

i bought a set of Fowler micrometers. our measurements were the same as the machine shop's Mitutoyo's. price was good.

 

There going to read the same. Just because its different brands doesnt mean your measurement will be off. Its the quality.

 

Most cheap measuring instruments will get the job done. But if you want the feel and durability of a quality tool, you get what you pay for (with a few exceptions)

For mics and calipers.. Mitutoyo
For dials.. Brown&Sharpe

I really like Starrett's telescoping gauges, but otherwise I prefer Japanese or Swiss

For something like feeler gauges, I wouldn't see it necessary to spend top dollar imo